Guard for cloth-folding machines



May 5, 1925.

C. T. GRAHAM GUARD FOR CLOTH FOLDING MACHINES Filed July 1. 1924 8 jwoentot .u... a n 1 M Q Patented May 5, 1925.

' UNITED STATES CLARENCE 'I. GRAHAM, F RIDGEFIELD', JERSEY.

GUARD FOR CLOTH-FOLDING MACHINES.

Application filed July 1,

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE T. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States of'America, and a resident of Ii-idgefield, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards for Cloth-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in cloth-folding machines of the oscillating or reciprocating type, in which the cloth or other material is folded in a zig-zag fashion, ply upon ply.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a safety guardfor the reciproeating blades, slotted bar or other type of fabric folding device, in combination with a fixed guard for the frame of the machine, the relation of the reciprocating and fixed guards being such that while the former wards off contact of the operators person with the cloth-folding device and with the cloth-gripping jaws at the end of the ma chine, the latter prevents the operators body being struck or injured by the reciprocating guard, the respective guards being so mounted relatively that when the reciprocating guard is at the extremity of its movement toward the fixed guard, there is sufficient room between them to prevent crushing or injuring any part of the operators person that might be resting upon or adjacent to the fixed guard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard for the reciprocating fabric" folding device which is adjustably mounted so that it will be capable of adjustment to whatever position affords the maximum guarding effect and at the same time effects a proper'clearance for the machine jaws, frame and fixed guard.

With these and other objects in view,

7 which will become apparent asthe deScription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed. a

In the drawings Figure 1, is a side elevatio-nal View of the frame and associated parts of a cloth-folding machine showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3, is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

While my invention is applicable to var- 1924. Serial no. 723,611.

ious types of cloth-folding machine which employ a reciprocating or oscillating motion in folding the cloth, I have illustrated it in connection with an Elliott & Hall cl0thfolder, a type well known in the art, and have illustrated only so much of the machine as is necessary to clearly show the invention.

Referringmore particularly to the drawing, the frame of the machine is indicated generally at A, and the reciprocating fabric folding device at B.

The fabric-folding device B, may be of any of the types well known in the art. 'I have illustrated the type employing spaced blade Z), between which the cloth passes in being folded.

The fabric-folding device is mounted in a swinging frame including the pivoted rods C, and connecting rods D, the latter thru the operation of crank arm E, imparting a reciprocating or oscillating motion to the folding device for folding the fabric ply upon ply, in the manner well known in the art. The aws with which the folding device co-operates are indicated generally at F.

According to my invention the connecting rods D are provided with extensions G, which project beyond the folding device B. The extensions may be mounted on the connecting rods in any suitable or desirable manner, such as by welding.

The extensions are provided with eyes H, aligned transversely .of the machine, and these eyes may act as bearings for the eccentric bushings I, which are carried on a guard bar K. The guard bar K may be formed of metal or of wood or other suitable material and the bushings I area-ligned with respect to each other and similarly mounted at the ends of the bar and in eccentric relation thereto, so that by rotating the bushings in theeyes or bearings H, the bar may be adjusted to a position for giving maximum guarding effect, and at the same time affording proper clearance of the machine jaws F, the machine frame'and the fixed guard L. 7

The eccentric bushings I are suitably mounted so as to prevent their lateral displacement from the eyes or bearings H,

and this may be accomplished by providing the bushings with shoulders or flanges i, at their inner ends, which fian 'es bear against the inner sides of the eyes Washers 5,

may be mounted on the bushings outside of the eyes H, and cotter pins or other fastening devices 6, utilized toretain the washers in place. Preferably the eccentric bushings have a friction fit with the eyes H, for retaining the guard bar in adjusted position.

The fixed guard L, is in the form of a bar positioned beyond the end of the machine at which the operator stands, and in case the bar is made of metal its ends may be turned in as indicated at 7, and may be fastened as at 8 to the frame of the machine, for maintaining the fixed guard in proper position thereon.

In Figure 1 the path of movement of the reciprocating guard is diagrammatically illustrated by the broken line 9, the arrows indicating the direction of movement of the guard. From the illustration, it will be observed that the reciprocating guard K advances before and retreats behind the clothfolding device 13, and that it passes in close relation to the jaws I near the operators end of the machine, and that when the guard is at its extremity of movement toward the fixed guard L, the latter is beyond and below the reciprocating guard and is sufficiently spaced therefrom to prevent any part of the operators person which may be resting upon or adjacent to the fixed guard from being crushed or injured.

Thus it will be seen that the reciprocating guard wards off contact of the operators person with the blades of the clothfolding device and with the cloth-gripping jaws at the end of the machine toward the operator, and at the same time the fixed guard will prevent the operator from being struck or injured by the reciprocating guard. Further, the reciprocating guard acts as a means whereby the cloth-folding device may be manually moved when the power is cut off from the machine to allow the cloth-folding device to be moved to a position for facilitating the removal of the cloth from the machine.

It often times happens that when the power is cut off from these machines, the momentum is sufficient to carry the blades to a position such as will greatly hinder the removal of the folded cloth from the machine, and as a consequence it is customary for the opertaor to grab the blades and force them to a proper position. This is a dangerous proceeding, and often results in injury to the operator.

Further, at all times the machine operator runs the risk of carelessly placing the hands or other parts of the body, in the path of the moving blades and suffering injury My invention is designed to eliminate or re duce to a minimum these dangers.

The fixed guard, in addition to preventing injury by the reciprocating guard, acts as a convenient rest for the hands or body of the operator, thus tending to prevent the operator from placing his hands or other parts of his body in other or more dangerous positions.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for purposes of clearness of understanding, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in View of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a cloth-folding machine, the combination of a reciprocating guard for the clotlrfolding device and moving therewith, and a fixed guard on the machine frame disposed below and beyond the reciprocating guard when the latter is at the extremity of its movement toward the fixed guard, said reciprocating guard being mounted for ec centric adjustment.

2. In a cloth-folding machine, the combination of a reciprocating guard for the cloth-folding device and moving therewith, a fixed guard on the machine, disposed beyond the reciprocating guard when the lat ter is at the extremity of its movement toward the fixed guard, and means whereby the reciprocating guard may be adjusted relatively to the cloth-folding device.

3. In a cloth-folding machine, the combination with a cloth-folding device, and a swinging frame on which the cloth-folding device is carried, said swinging frame including connecting rods, of extensions on said connecting rods projecting beyond the cloth-folding device, and provided with bearings, and a guard having eccentric bushings rotatably mounted in said bearings.

t. In a cloth-folding machine, the combination with a cloth-folding device, and connecting rods for operating the same, of extensions on said connection rods projecting beyond the cloth-folding device and a guard mounted on said extensions for eccentric adjustment relatively to the cloth-folding device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CLARENCE T. GRAHAM.

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